Isabella
Matthews

See the majestic splendour and poetic ruins of ancient Khmer temples

Your first glimpse of legendary temples of Angkor Wat can only be equated to seeing Pyramids of Giza or Machu Picchu for the first time. Your Siem Reap holiday and tour of Angkor will lead you on a voyage of discovery, taking you from the imposing towers of Angkor to abandoned temples hidden deep in the jungle.

Your local guides can fill you in on the fascinating history behind this temple complex, as well as help you navigate the large Angkor Wat Archaeological Park so that you can arrive at the temples at the best time of day to avoid the crowds or to see them at their most spectacular.

Angkor Wat was the crowning glory of the Khmer Empire. Its five towers represent the peaks of Mount Meru, the sacred mountain of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology. At Angkor Thom, is 12th-century Bayon, the remarkable temple of Cambodia’s most famous king – Jayavarman VII. At other temples, such as Ta Phrom, the grandiose temples have given way to the forces of nature, as tree roots snake through the ruins.

The base for your tour is the chic resort town of Siem Reap, a great destination in its own right with its mix of pretty colonial and Chinese-style buildings, hip hotels, charming cafes, restaurants and street food. There’s lots to do in the town itself: there is a thriving arts scene and plenty of interesting shops and market stalls, making it a great place to relax after an exhilarating day discovering forgotten temples hidden deep in the jungle.